The Dubai International Rehabilitation Forum Rehab 2004 was inaugurated by Obeid Al Tayer, chairman of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) on January 2004. The annual event, which seeks to bring disability and rehabilitation issues into spotlight as well as showcase the latest rehabilitation products and services.

Jointly organised by the Dubai Club for the Handicapped and the Indes Conferences and Exhibtitions Organisations Establishment, Rehab 2004 targets a severely disabled Arab population exceeding 10 million. The event is held under the patronageof Dubai Deputy Ruler and the UAE Minister for Finance and Industry Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It is also being supported by the Dubai Municipality, Department of Health and Medical Services (DoHMS) and the Minister of Labour & Social Affairs. The motto of Rehab 2004 was Inclusion with Independence.

Dubai is hosting the "Rehab 2004," a conference that according to the chairman of the organizing committee is said to be, "the only event of its kind in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. The goal of Rehab 2004 is to improve the quality of life for disabled people of the Middle East region. Dubai has every intention of becoming the aviation and tourism hub the Middle East and as such, have designed a new and more accessible airport equipped with special accessible taxi / vans and is improving accessibility in hotels as well as public buildings. There's even a large rehabilitation complex being constructed on land that has been donated His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defense. Being relatively new to industrialization and rich in finances, Dubai has been fortunate in that it is easier to make accessible alterations to existing buildings as opposed to older cities like Florence and Rome which are famous for their ancient architecture.